Automatic telephone switch



March 24, 1925. 1,530,998

H. W. GOFF AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed July 3, 1922 MVen/or.

iiPatented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HAROLD w. GOFF, or N'EwYoRK, N. 1., AssreNo'R c WESTERN ELECTRICcoMPANY, INCORPORATED, 015 NEW Yon-K, N. Y.. A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE swrrcn.

Application filed July 3.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, Heinono W. Gorr, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at New York. in the county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic TelephoneSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in switching mechanisms and hasparticular reference to a switchstructure employed in automatictelephone exchange systems.

In the type of switch mechanisms generally referred. to in the telephoneart as coordinate switches, it has been proposed to produce a wipingengagement between two sets of contacts and to flex one of, said sets sothat the contacts thereof will remain in engagement with the contacts ofanother set when operated. This has been accomplished by the cooperationof incoming andoutgoing line bars and link bars, certain of the linebars being assigned. to groups. of incoming lines, each line having aset of line. contacts and the link bars being individual to a set oflink contacts which are operated to join an incoming line in anyparticular group to an outgoing trunk. In making such a connection, theactive link contacts and intersecting or transversely arranged sets ofactive line contacts are movedrelative to each other to bring them into'en: gagement. Each of the incoming line bars, being associated with aplurality of incoming lines, participates in the establishment ofcoexisting connections between the lines of the group to which it isassigned andidle outgoing lines or trunks. It is possible thatsuccessive operations of said incoming line bars, in establishingcoexisting connections. may sometimes tend to disturb said connectionsby producing noises on the lines and that vibrations of the switchingmechanism, due to the establishment of connections, may be imparted toengaged sets of contacts and thereby momentarily interrupt theconnections therebetween. 1

An object of the present invention is to prevent successive operationsof the line bars from disturbing existing connections estab lishedbetween active sets of relative movable contacts.

Another object is to'maintain two trans- 1922. Serial No. 572,482.

versely arranged sets of operated contacts in-clo se contactingengagement with each other by exerting a constant pressure on one ofsaid sets.

A turther object is to provide an economical and improved form ofcoordinate switch which will be simple in construction and reliable inoperation.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the followingdetailed description when taken in connect-ionwith the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates" some of the mechanical expressions of theinventive idea.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a switchstructure partly broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2 is averticallongitudinal sectional view through the switch structure shown in Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 show-1 ing another embodiment ofthe invention, andFig. 4 is a perspective view of a latching member andmounting therefor employed in connection with Fig. 3'.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, theswitch struc' ture is shown as comprising a plurality of verticallyarranged line bars 1, some of which may be'assigned to groups ofincoming subscribers lines while others may be assigned'to outgoinglines or trunks. While onlythree of the bars 1 are shown, it will beunderstood that in actual practice a considerable number of these barswill be employed, the number depending upon trafiic requiren'ients andother considerations. Each of the line bars assigned to incoming linesserves a group of such lines and after being engaged in the extension ofone of said lines to a trunk, may be again employed in the establishmentof connections for other lines in the group which the line bar serves.

Each of the incoming lines is respresen'ted by a set of active contactscom-prising four flexible wire conductors 2, although it will beunderstood that the number of these conductors may be varied to meetcertain trafiic requirements. Each of the sets of contacts or conductors2 is mounted in an insulating support 3' and extends outwardly therefromin a horizontal plane at right angles to the line bars 1. The upwardmovement of the contacts 2 past the" normal horizontal plane isprevented by extensions or stops 4 preferably forming part of the switchframe 5. Each of the line bars is rotated by a. magnet 6. the armature 7of which is secured to an associated line bar.

Arranged in transverse or intersecting relation to the line bars 1 are aplurality of link bars 8 rotatably supported in a horizontal position bydownwardly extending lugs 9 disposed adjacent each end of each of saidbars and engaged in notches 10 formed in supports 11 which comprise partof the switch frame. The support for only one end of each of the linkbars is shown in the drawing, but it will be understood that the otherend thereof is supported in the same Each of the link bars is rotated bymeans of a magnet 12 having its armature 13 secured to or forming a partof the associated link bar.

Secured to each of the linkbars is a grid element such as shown anddescribed in my copending application, Serial No. 550,617, filed April8, 1922, and consisting of an insulated strip 14 having series oftransverse notches or slots 15 formed on the opposite longitudinal edgesthereof. These notches are arranged in staggered relation and designedto receive the tour wire conductors 16 which are helically wound aboutthe in sulated strip'l l and which form a set of active link contactsfor establishing a connection between a set of incoming line contactsand. a set of outgoing line contacts,

i the latter of which are individual to an outgoing line or trunk. Whenone of the link bars and its associated set of activecontacts areemployed in establishing a con nection they cannot be again used inmaking another connection until the first one is released. The rearlongitudinal edge of each link bar 8 has secured thereto a flexiblelatching member 17 associated with each set of active line contacts 2and provided therein with an opening 18 through which the contacts 2extend and whichis designed to receive a block of insulating material19, in which said contacts are embedded, when the latching member 17 isflexed in a primary movement by contact With a pin extending laterallyfrom the associated line bar 1.

When a call is initiated on an. incoming line in a group served by oneof the line bars 1, this bar and another line bar 1 serving an idleoutgoing line or trunk are rotated by their respective magnets 6 in amanner which is clearly described in Pat ent No. 1,515,735 issued to C.L. G-oodrum et al, on November 18, 1924. The rotation of each of theline bars 1 causes the pins 20 carried thereby to engage the upper freeends of all latching members 17 which are in their normal positions. Theengagement of the pins 20 with latching members 17 flexes or rotatessaid members in theii 'pri mary movement so that the opening 18 in saidmembers will receive the insulated block 19 substantially as shown inthe lower portion of Fig. 2. i

A magnet 12 associated with a link bar is now operated and rotates saidbar about its lug 9 as a pivot to the operated position shown in Fig, 2.Being thus actuated, the link bar 8 moves the grid element 14 and itslink contacts 16 relative to the associated sets of active line contacts2. At the same time the downward movement of the rear end of the linkbar 8 causes a secondary movement of two of the latching members 17which have been actuated by two of the line bars 1, to engage the upperends of said latching members with the insulated blocks 19 so as toexert a constant pressure on said blocks and thus move the active setsof line contacts 2 relative to the set of link contacts 16 until saidsets engage each other. The secondary movement of said latching memhersis in a plane different from the primary movement thereof. The relativemovements of said sets are such that whenv the same come in contact. awiping engagement is produced. At the termination of the rotary movementof the link bar each insu lated block 19 has been moved downwardly tosuch an extent as to flex its set of contacts 2 to effectively maintainthe same in engagement with the contacts 16 and this engagement ismaintained constant by the pressure exerted upon the block 19 by thelatching member 17. After the sets of contacts 2 and 16 have beenbrought into engagement, the magnet 6 controlling the incoming line barmay be released to permit of the restoration of said bar to normal,whereby the same may be employed in establishing coexisting connectionsfor other lines in the group which it serves. 'lien the line bar 1srestored to normal the pins 20 are disengaged from the associatedlatching members 17 which have not been operated in their secondarymovements by the actuation of the link bar so that said latching memberswill restore to their normal positions preparatory tobeing again actuated by a succeeding operation of the line bar. The latching member 17which was operated in its secondary movement by the actuation of thelink bar 8 remains in its operated position by reason of engagementthereof with a projection 21 formed upon the upper edge of the insulatedblock 19. When the latching member 17 is operated by link bar 8 saidmember is moved downwardly to such an extent that the upper edgethereof, which is engaged by a pin 20, is moved out of the path of saidpin so that upon a succeeding operation of the line bar the pinassociated with the operated latch mg member will fail to engage thesame tit) and thus be prevented from in any way disturbing the existingengagement between the sets of contacts 2 and 16.

At the termination of the connection which has been established magnetis deenergized thus pern'iitting the lint; ha" be restored to its normalhoiizental position, wl'iereupon latrhing member 21' d's engaged fromthe insnlated block it). The active set of contacts 2 then permitted trestore to its normal position in rngageinent with the stop t and thesets of contact 2 and 16 are again separated.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4' the line bars 22, instead ot having arotary niovw ment as described in l'llift'tim't. with Figs. 1 and 2,have a ver iral longitudinal :novw ment and each is controlled by amagnet :1 which. when energized. cause its armature 24 to engage pin 25and more the line bar in a downward dir tion. The tint; bars 26.arranged transversely with respect to the line bars 22. are ol snistantiallv the same construction as the link bars s and. each hassecured to its lront edge the grid elements including an insulatingstrip 27 and an active set of link conta ts helieally wound on saidstrip. Each link bar is rotated by a magnet (not sl'iov-rn). similar tothe magnet 12. so as to move the set ot' contacts 28 relative to the setof line oup tarts 29. in the en'ibodiinent shown in Fin. 2). each set olline contacts is embedded in an insulated block 30. the upper movementof which is limited by a stop men'iber 31 forming a portion of theswitch Frame. Pivotally mounted in the block is a latching member 32preferably formed of a single length of wire having its rear end 33secured to the line bar 22. The intermediate portion 34 ot the wiretorming the latching member 3% is bent at substantially right angles tothe rear end thereof and passed tl'irough the insulated block 30 to Forma pivot for the latching member. The remaining portion 35 ot the wire isthen bent into a substantially rectangular formation and has its treeend 36 wound about one end of portion 34 in a manner clearly shown inFig. 4. The lower end 37 of the portion is bent upwardly as indicated toprovide a recess for receiving the rear longitudinal edge of anassociated link bar when the latching member and link bar are in theiroperatingpositions as indicated in the lower portion of Fig. 3.

\Vhen the line bar is moved (lOWZh wardly by the energization of themagnet 23. latching member 32 is rocked in a primary movement about itspivot portion iii to substantially the position shown in lower portionof Fig. 3 so that when the link bar it} is rotated downwardly the rearedge of said link bar is first engaged with the portion 37 01 thelatching member and then forces the same downwardly in a secondarymovement to move the set (1? contacts 73) toward the et o t' linkcontacts which ar also moved relative to the line rontarts 71!) by therotation of the link bar an. it wiping engagement thns etibeted betweenthe sets ot' contacts 28 and 2*.) and. eontiixned movement ot' the linkbar La'ti then tleres the contacts 99 and maintains a constant pressnrethereon through the inter- 1ll(il2i1 oi" the latching; member 3'3 and insnlated block 30 so that said sets of contaets will be maintained insuch etose engagement 22s to be nni'iti'eeted by possible ibrations ot'the switching meehz'mism when :Jiablishing other connections. After theeonnertion is established. the iine bar 2; 'ing a group ol' incominglines is per 1 ted to restore to its normal position in preparation torthe establishment of another eminection. in thns l:3t)\il'= to it nor:at position all of the, latching members a2. except the one which hasbeen engaged by a link bar. are also restored to normal while the rearportion 11;; ot' the latching memher which has been given a secondarymovement by the actuated link bar. is flexed as indicated in the lowerportion of Fig. 3.

'When the eminection is released. the actuated link bar is restored tonormal, thus disengaging the rear longitudinal edge thereof from theportion 37 of the latching member which then restores to normal byreason of the flexed condition ot the portion 33 thereo't' and that ofthe line contacts 29 which also assume their normal position when theinsulated block 30 engages the stop 31. The relative movements betweenthe sets of contacts 28 and 29, when the saline, are restored to normal.separates these contacts. thus disestablishing the eonnectiontherebet-vveen.

What is claimed is:

t. In a switching mechanism, sets of active contacts arranged intransverse relation, rotatable and pivotal operating bars also arrangedin transverse relation, a latching member fixedly attached to saidpivotal operating bar and operated by said rotatable operating bar toprepare one of said sets of contacts tor engagement with the other ofsaid sets of contacts. and means operable to move the said pivotaloperating bar, there by moving both sets of contacts shnultaneously toeffect an inter-engagement :2. in a switching mechanism. sets ofcontarts. an operating bar having a rotary movement, another operatingbar having a rocking movement. a resilient latching member securelyattached to said rocking bar, means tor rotating the first of saidoperating bars to move the said latching member into an operativeposition. and other means for rocking the second 0t said operating barsto further move the said latching memher, thereby effecting a connectionbetween said contact sets.

33. In a Switching nieenanism, sets of active contacls an insulatingblock in which one of said sets of contacts is emhedilerli operatingbars for each of Said sets of contacts a reient latching niemherattached to one of (l operating hare: and arranged to be tiered by theother of sa cl operating lJiliS into a los-zition in which it prepareeone of --::i(l (Hiitilt'i ttS for connection, aml means on sahiinsulating: hloek arranged to be era-- gufftll hf" Twi l latchingmemlier an operative position. when the operating har to which helwtching lnel'niicr s HtlH'liQtl opemtetl. thereby nioi'iugsinmitaneously eai fl cm'itact wt: into intcr-e1i;:'a;z'enLent producinga wipaig ea l eat therein.

4. in a switching mechanism. sets of activicontact a rotatablei'iperating war. a piwtal operating har an insulating block in which oneof e airl ectx o1 contact? 5*: cmheihlml. a latching: meinher attachedto said pivotal har and arran n-el to poz ition itself. in operativerelation to said insulating; block when the rotatable har is operated.and

means to more the pivotal bar in order to lock together the latchingmember and the inmlatingr hlocir. thereby flexing; the said (Hii 9(l(l(lcontact set into a Wiping engagement with the other of said contactsete, the flexed condition of the contact set restoring the operatinghaw to normal when the connection is hrolien.

:3. In esitch structure. sets of inovaole PHHUVN. an insulating block inwhich one of the Said of movable i-ontaets is securely zerlilwl. aprojection on v airl insulating itz hle an? a pivotal operating an I: reireni latching men'ihcr, means; on erahle to flex: said latching melnherinto open :t wwe l'lill with Haul projectioin and other iilizilhoperahle to cause an engagement hetvse -n the latching; member and theprojection. tllNPlUX hoth (fi m-ting a ruhhiugz enk'liittlillJKi'W'PPDthe said contact and exerting :i renetzaut preesure therehetween duringthe engagement.

in Will'liHS whereof, I hereunto suhscrihe no; name thiw 30th day ofJune, A. l). 1922.

HAROLD W. GO FF.

